Offshore ebike manufacturers to disappear in 2025

[Mr. Coffee]

I might actually be cautiously optimistic here.

All of the expertise to design and build decent bikes exists in the United States. Right now it mostly focuses on manufacturing of very high-end bikes and pretty components. But all of the expertise is there. Look at companies like Stinner and Chris King.

Manufacturing all of that stuff at scale is very amenable to automation. All you'd need to make bikes domestically at scale is some pretty modest capital investment. You probably couldn't get a $600 Amazon e-bike that way, but you could definitely have a lot of decent e-bike builds at the $1000 price range and up.

 

[jabberwocky]

I might actually be cautiously optimistic here.

All of the expertise to design and build decent bikes exists in the United States. Right now it mostly focuses on manufacturing of very high-end bikes and pretty components. But all of the expertise is there. Look at companies like Stinner and Chris King.

Manufacturing all of that stuff at scale is very amenable to automation. All you'd need to make bikes domestically at scale is some pretty modest capital investment. You probably couldn't get a $600 Amazon e-bike that way, but you could definitely have a lot of decent e-bike builds at the $1000 price range and up.

I mean... maybe. But companies like Chris King (and other boutique US parts manufacturers) already run a lot of automated manufacturing. You still need people to load the machines, program them, maintain them and handle packaging and shipping and whatnot. And American labor is expensive.

Agreed wholeheartedly that we absolutely could make excellent bikes, top to bottom, in the US. I'm extremely skeptical that you could do a $1000 ebike entirely in the US though. Or even a $4000 ebike. And doing it would be the work of years (maybe decades). We just don't have that level of commodity manufacturing capacity.

 

[JoeDirt]

Well I will leave the politics at a low level for my opinion is probably not well liked.

I personally feel bike manufacturers as well as many other types of Manufacturers ought to stay on US soil, support our economy and quit being so greedy by sending it offshore.

That's really the root cause of all of this, we have sold out for greed.

It's pretty black and white you don't have to be a red or blue to understand that. Help should start at the home first. Sorry if I went to political I don't mean to and surely not to offend anyone.

My whole plight on this post was merely to find out why we have so many Oddball name brands popping up with bikes that look exactly like the other ones and then they disappear a few months later. Or no support. I think somebody answered that on a previous post.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I mean... maybe. But companies like Chris King (and other boutique US parts manufacturers) already run a lot of automated manufacturing. You still need people to load the machines, program them, maintain them and handle packaging and shipping and whatnot. And American labor is expensive.

Agreed wholeheartedly that we absolutely could make excellent bikes, top to bottom, in the US. I'm extremely skeptical that you could do a $1000 ebike entirely in the US though. Or even a $4000 ebike. And doing it would be the work of years (maybe decades). We just don't have that level of commodity manufacturing capacity.

Wright's Law rapidly comes into play, all of the current manufacturers still in the US manufacture high-end parts at tiny scales. If you scaled them up by a factor of 1000 (which would take time and money, how much time depends on how much money) costs would drop dramatically. And labor costs most of all.

Experience curve effects - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[il Munduato]

I'm so glad you guys are all working on this... I was so worried

 

[Chargeride]

I went to a funeral yesterday, an old friends mother.
Got talking to his son, turns out hes quite a well known journalist in the European biking scene, he proceeded to get pretty drunk, it was his grandma who died and he was a bit emotional obviously.
He then spent an hour filling me in with the behind the scenes of the media and industry.
He literally had all the top players, riders
influencers, youtubers in his contacts and socialises with them all, spending most of the year around Europe.

Im not going to discuss his over sharing, it wouldnt be fair to take advantage of his bad day.

I can say the biggest take from it was the industry is cutting costs and its causing a lot of mental health problems for the media 'stars' as they are being pressured to make more and more content, almost daily to keep up with social media and are seeing less and less of their families while straying away from actual reviews to simply advertising brands without critique allowed.

First world problems and all, but it kinda feels the cycle industry is going through some unsettled times.

 

[dblhelix]

while straying away from actual reviews to simply advertising brands without critique allowed.

Hasn't it been this way for years (at least in the US)? The only YouTube review worth watching is of a bike purchased with rider funds and put through its paces over 2yrs. Also, the reviewer should not depend on YT income beyond hobbyist chump change.

 

[harryS]

I can say the biggest take from it was the industry is cutting costs and its causing a lot of mental health problems for the media 'stars' as they are being pressured to make more and more content, almost daily to keep up with social media and are seeing less and less of their families while straying away from actual reviews to simply advertising brands without critique allowed.

Youtube is saturated with amateur reviewers who have caved out enough likes that desperate fledging ebike sellers will send them a $300 (cost) ebike to hopefully garner some looks. Under the stickers, all these low cost bikes are about the same. I've no sympathy for these "influencers." They can always sell the free bike.

 

[Chargeride]

I would be useless at reviews.
If it doesnt snap in half I'd give it a 10/10

 

[Dewey]

A while back on Endless Sphere some DIY enthusiasts were experimenting with Astroflight drone electric motors made in California, using reduction gearboxes as the fast revs were overkill. Otherwise if I recall the Grin Tech All Axle motor is assembled in Vancouver from imported parts. And the Revel Propulsion mid-drive is assembled in Ashland, Oregon using imported parts such as a Sempu torque sensor. There are brands interested in domestic manufacturing, some frame builders including Bike Friday & Worksman offer conversions with various imported systems. Detroit’s Bloom is a consultancy that can help industry make connections.

Are there any other Ebike motors currently made or assembled in North America?

 

[JoeDirt]

Anyone that might be interested in this overwhelming list of e-bikes. It's in alphabetical order. And it shows the manufacturing location and website.

⚡ 2024 Master List of All Electric Bicycle Brands

Most accurate and comprehensive list of every electric bike brand

ebikesx.com

It is fairly overwhelming.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Anyone that might be interested in this overwhelming list of e-bikes. It's in alphabetical order. And it shows the manufacturing location and website.

⚡ 2024 Master List of All Electric Bicycle Brands

Most accurate and comprehensive list of every electric bike brand

ebikesx.com

It is fairly overwhelming.

The author does not know the market well enough. Where is Superior? Where is Lovelec?

 

[Chargeride]

I half expected to see myself on that list

 

[JoeDirt]

Yes I started looking at other lists, and notice that there were groups of other types of bikes listed on other sites that were out of the US. So add to more confusion I pretty much stopped at that point. Pretty interesting did not know Ducati or Audi made e bikes and I think I even saw a GM in there.

 

[Nvreloader]

JD
Out of the 3 bikes I own, only 1 made the list, and one of the oldest (Best, IMHO) folding bikes was not even mention, but it is a start. ymmv

 

[Urbancowboy]

Keep in mind that there are a lot of reasons manufacturers are shutting down and (more often) exiting certain markets. Especially at mid-range prices but sometimes for no-name imported e-bikes there is still a huge glut of inventory left over from the pandemic, when demand for bicycles of all kinds (but most notably e-bikes) was insane and because of supply chain disruptions few bikes were available.

I still see 2022 and 2023 bikes on showroom floors at bike shops.

You should also keep in mind that if you are concerned about support and service for your e-bike it is reasonable to assume that if you purchase your e-bike direct from the manufacturer online there will be zero support and service.

Cant say this is my experience. When my rear Wheel Motor started making notices I contacted Fucare the Manufacturer via Amazon and within a few Days Fucare send not only a replacement Motor but a complete new Wheel with Motor installed everything free of charge no huffing and puffing. This is the kind of Service which brings me back again and again to a Brand and makes me recommending them to my Friends.

Cheers